Threshold Filtering

Threshold filters, following the guidance of Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration (DEAR) are used to exclude specific results values from the SEACAR Analysis. Based on the threshold filters, Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC) Flags are inserted into the SEACAR_QAQCFlagCode and SEACAR_QAQC_Description columns of the export data. The Include column indicates whether the QAQC Flag will also indicate that data are excluded from analysis. No data are excluded from the data export, but the analysis scripts can use the Include column to exclude data (1 to include, 0 to exclude).

Continuous Water Quality threshold values
Parameter Name Units Low Threshold High Threshold Sensor Type
Dissolved Oxygen mg/L 0 50 YSI EXOs
Dissolved Oxygen mg/L 0 50 Analysis Only - 2022-04-04
Dissolved Oxygen mg/L 0 50 6600 Series
Salinity ppt 0 70 6600 Series
Salinity ppt 0 70 YSI EXOs
Salinity ppt 0 70 Analysis Only - 2022-04-04
Water Temperature Degrees C -5 45 YSI EXOs
Water Temperature Degrees C -5 45 Analysis Only - 2022-04-04
Water Temperature Degrees C -5 45 6600 Series
pH pH 2 14 Analysis Only - 2022-04-04
pH pH 2 14 6600 Series
pH pH 2 14 YSI EXOs
Dissolved Oxygen Saturation % 0 500 YSI EXOs
Dissolved Oxygen Saturation % 0 500 6600 Series
Dissolved Oxygen Saturation % 0 500 Analysis Only - 2022-04-04
Specific Conductivity mS/cm 0 100 6600 Series
Specific Conductivity mS/cm 0 200 YSI EXOs
Turbidity NTU 0 4000 YSI EXOs
Turbidity NTU 0 1000 6600 Series
Turbidity NTU 0 4000 Analysis Only - 2022-04-04
Discrete Water Quality threshold values
Parameter Name Units Low Threshold High Threshold
Dissolved Oxygen mg/L 0.000001 22
Salinity ppt 0 70
Water Temperature Degrees C 3 40
pH 2 13
Dissolved Oxygen Saturation % 0.000001 310
Specific Conductivity mS/cm 0.005000001 100
Turbidity NTU 0 -
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) mg/L 0 -
Chlorophyll a uncorrected for pheophytin ug/L 0 -
Chlorophyll a corrected for pheophytin ug/L 0 -
Secchi Depth m 0.000001 50
Light Extinction Coefficient m^1 0 -
Colored dissolved organic matter, CDOM PCU 0 -
Fluorescent dissolved organic matter, FDOM QSE 0 -
Total Nitrogen mg/L 0 -
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen TKN mg/L 0 -
NO2+3 Filtered mg/L 0 -
NH4 Filtered mg/L 0 -
Total Phosphorus mg/L 0 -
PO4 Filtered mg/L 0 -
Ammonia- Un-ionized (NH3) mg/L 0 -
Nitrate (N) mg/L 0 -
Nitrite (N) mg/L 0 -
Nitrogen, organic mg/L 0 -
Quality Assurance Flags inserted based on threshold checks listed in Table 1 & 2
SEACAR QAQC Description Include SEACAR QAQCFlagCode
Exceeds Maximum threshold. Not verified in raw data No 2Q
Exceeds Maximum threshold. Verified in raw data No 3Q
Below Minimum threshold. Not verified in raw data No 4Q
Below Minimum threshold. Verified in raw data No 5Q
Within threshold tolerance Yes 6Q
No defined thresholds for this parameter Yes 7Q

Value Qualifiers

Value qualifier codes included within the data are used to exclude certain results from the analysis. The data are retained in the data export files, but the analysis uses the Include column to filter the results.

STORET and WIN value qualifier codes

Value qualifier codes from STORET and WIN data are examined with the database and used to populate the Include column in data exports.

Value Qualifier codes excluded from analysis
Qualifier Source Value Qualifier Include MDL Description
STORET-WIN H No 0 Value based on field kit determination; results may not be accurate
STORET-WIN J No 0 Estimated value
STORET-WIN V No 0 Analyte was detected at or above method detection limit
STORET-WIN Y No 0

Discrete Water Quality Value Qualifiers

The following value qualifiers are highlighted in the Discrete Water Quality section of this report. An exception is made for Program 476 - Charlotte Harbor Estuaries Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Network and data flagged with Value Qualifier H are included for this program only.

H - Value based on field kit determiniation; results may not be accurate. This code shall be used if a field screening test (e.g., field gas chromatograph data, immunoassay, or vendor-supplied field kit) was used to generate the value and the field kit or method has not been recognized by the Department as equivalent to laboratory methods.

I - The reported value is greater than or equal to the laboratory method detection limit but less than the laboratory practical quantitation limit.

Q - Sample held beyond the accepted holding time. This code shall be used if the value is derived from a sample that was prepared or analyzed after the approved holding time restrictions for sample preparation or analysis.

S - Secchi disk visible to bottom of waterbody. The value reported is the depth of the waterbody at the location of the Secchi disk measurement.

U - Indicates that the compound was analyzed for but not detected. This symbol shall be used to indicate that the specified component was not detected. The value associated with the qualifier shall be the laboratory method detection limit. Unless requested by the client, less than the method detection limit values shall not be reported

Systemwide Monitoring Program (SWMP) value qualifier codes

Value qualifier codes from the SWMP continuous program are examined with the database and used to populate the Include column in data exports. SWMP Qualifier Codes are indicated by QualifierSource=SWMP.

SWMP Value Qualifier codes
Qualifier Source Value Qualifier Include Description
SWMP -1 Yes Optional parameter not collected
SWMP -2 No Missing data
SWMP -3 No Data rejected due to QA/QC
SWMP -4 No Outside low sensor range
SWMP -5 No Outside high sensor range
SWMP 0 Yes Passed initial QA/QC checks
SWMP 1 No Suspect data
SWMP 2 Yes Reserved for future use
SWMP 3 Yes
SWMP 4 Yes Historical: Pre-auto QA/QC
SWMP 5 Yes Corrected data

Water Column

The water column habitat extends from the surface of all water bodies to the bottom sediments and encompasses the different features found in the water at different depths (National Oceanographic Center, 2016). The water column habitat must be viewed in relation to its interconnectedness with other habitats. A healthy water column is an integral component in ensuring a healthy marine and coastal ecosystem. Having a flourishing marine and coastal ecosystem in Florida is necessary to support a strong economy. The health of the water column is dependent upon factors as diverse as land use (e.g., agriculture, mining, forestry practices); human population growth; emissions, (e.g., power plants, automobiles, wastewater); climate (e.g., rainfall, temperature, winds and currents); and decadal trends (e.g., El Niño/La Niña, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, climate change).

The water column is composed of various physical, chemical and biological features, and only a small number of them are adequately monitored. Features of the water column that are monitored are used as indicators of the water column health and help assess the status of other habitats. These indicators include nutrient concentrations (nitrogen and phosphorus); water quality (dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity and pH); water clarity (Secchi depth, turbidity, chlorophyll-a and colored dissolved organic matter); and nekton (fish, macroinvertebrates and megafauna).

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Analysis

Indicators must have a minimum of five to ten years, depending on the habitat, of data within the geographic range of the analysis to be included in the analysis. Ten years of data are required for discrete parameters, and five years of data are required for continuous parameters. If there are insufficient years of data, the number of years of data available will be noted and labeled as “insufficient data to conduct analysis”. Further, for the preferred Seasonal Kendall-Tau test, there must be data from at least two months in common across at least two consecutive years within the RCP managed area being analyzed. Values that pass both of these tests will be included in the analysis and be labeled as Use_In_Analysis = TRUE. Any that fail either test will be excluded from the analyses and labeled as Use_In_Analysis = FALSE.

Water Quality - Discrete

The following files were used in the discrete analysis:

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Chlorophyll_a_corrected_for_pheophytin-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Chlorophyll_a_uncorrected_for_pheophytin-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Colored_dissolved_organic_matter_CDOM-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Dissolved_Oxygen-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Dissolved_Oxygen_Saturation-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_pH-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Salinity-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Secchi_Depth-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Total_Nitrogen-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Total_Phosphorus-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Total_Suspended_Solids_TSS-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Turbidity-2024-Mar-27.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_Water_Temperature-2024-Mar-27.txt

Dissolved Oxygen - Discrete Water Quality

Dissolved Oxygen (DO) is a key indicator of water quality. Oxygen enters surface waters by air-sea gas exchange, by wind action, or as a byproduct of aquatic plant photosynthesis. The actual quantity of DO in aquatic environments is dependent on the above processes as well as water temperature and salinity.

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Dissolved Oxygen
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Dissolved Oxygen
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 698 1996 2023
5058 266 2009 2011
3001 98 1999 2003
95 71 1972 2018
103 14 1970 1970
69 2 1998 1998

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
5058 - Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) Water Quality Monitoring Report
3001 - Lagoon Watch (Formerly Marine Discovery Center)
95 - Harmful Algal Bloom Marine Observation Network
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)
69 - Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program

There are no qualifying Value Qualifiers for Dissolved Oxygen in Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area

Dissolved Oxygen Saturation - Discrete Water Quality

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Dissolved Oxygen Saturation
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Dissolved Oxygen Saturation
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 171 1996 2023
3001 98 1999 2003
102 2 1995 1995
95 1 2016 2016

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
3001 - Lagoon Watch (Formerly Marine Discovery Center)
102 - National Status and Trends Mussel Watch
95 - Harmful Algal Bloom Marine Observation Network

There are no qualifying Value Qualifiers for Dissolved Oxygen Saturation in Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area

Salinity - Discrete Water Quality

Salinity is a measure of the amount of salt in the water. In estuarine ecosystems, salinity is influenced by precipitation, evaporation, surface-water inputs, and exchange with coastal waters.

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Salinity
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Salinity
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 816 1996 2023
5058 266 2009 2011
95 230 1972 2018
3001 102 1999 2003
3 76 1998 2022
118 23 2015 2020
69 8 1997 1998
102 2 1995 1995

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
5058 - Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) Water Quality Monitoring Report
95 - Harmful Algal Bloom Marine Observation Network
3001 - Lagoon Watch (Formerly Marine Discovery Center)
3 - Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) South Florida Program Synoptic Shipboard Surveys
118 - National Aquatic Resource Surveys, National Coastal Condition Assessment
69 - Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program
102 - National Status and Trends Mussel Watch

There are no qualifying Value Qualifiers for Salinity in Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area

Secchi Depth - Discrete Water Quality

Secchi depth is a measure of the transparency or clarity of the water by a device called a Secchi disk. A Secchi disk is a black and white disk that is lowered into the water on a cord. The Secchi depth is the depth at which the disk can no longer be seen. The deeper the Secchi depth, the greater the water clarity.

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Secchi Depth
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Secchi Depth
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5033 4797 2016 2021
103 961 2020 2021
3001 99 1999 2003
69 8 1997 1998
5002 1 2023 2023

Program names:

5033 - Southeast Florida Water Quality Assessment Survey
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)
3001 - Lagoon Watch (Formerly Marine Discovery Center)
69 - Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program
5002 - Florida STORET / WIN

Value Qualifiers

  • N_Total is total amount of data for a given year
  • N_ is the total amount of values flagged with the respective value qualifier in a given year
  • perc_ is the percent of data flagged with the respective value qualifier as a proportion of N_Total
Value Qualifiers for Secchi Depth
Year N_Total N_S perc_S
2023 1 1 100

Note: 1S - Secchi disk visible to bottom of waterbody

Programs containing Value Qualified data:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN

Total Phosphorus - Discrete Water Quality

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Total Phosphorus
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Total Phosphorus
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5033 8353 2017 2021
103 1846 2020 2021
5002 664 2013 2023
5058 268 2009 2011

Program names:

5033 - Southeast Florida Water Quality Assessment Survey
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)
5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
5058 - Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) Water Quality Monitoring Report

Value Qualifiers

  • N_Total is total amount of data for a given year
  • N_ is the total amount of values flagged with the respective value qualifier in a given year
  • perc_ is the percent of data flagged with the respective value qualifier as a proportion of N_Total
Value Qualifiers for Total Phosphorus
Year N_Total N_I perc_I N_Q perc_Q N_U perc_U
2013 62 57 91.9
2014 361 28 7.8 1 0.3
2017 631 48 7.6 556 88.1 2 0.3
2018 1896 149 7.9 386 20.4 113 6.0
2019 2397 170 7.1 3 0.1 26 1.1
2020 2475 165 6.7 6 0.2 23 0.9
2021 2800 47 1.7 5 0.2

Note: 1I - Reported value is greater than or equal to lab method detection limit, but less than quantitation limit 2Q - Sample held beyond the accepted holding time 3U - Compound was analyzed for but not detected

Programs containing Value Qualified data:

5033 - Southeast Florida Water Quality Assessment Survey
5002 - Florida STORET / WIN

Water Temperature - Discrete Water Quality

Temperature determines the capacity of water to hold oxygen. Cooler water can hold more dissolved oxygen because water molecules are more tightly packed, making it harder for oxygen to escape. Additionally, as water temperature increases, fish and other aquatic organisms become more active and consume oxygen at a faster rate.

Seasonal Kendall-Tau Trend Analysis
Discrete Water Quality
Map showing location of Discrete sampling sites for Water Temperature
Discrete Water Quality
The bubble size on the above plots reflects the amount of data available at each sampling site

Programs contributing data for Water Temperature
ProgramID N_Data YearMin YearMax
5002 820 1996 2023
5058 266 2009 2011
95 258 1972 2018
3001 104 1999 2003
103 17 1970 1970
69 8 1997 1998
102 2 1995 1995

Program names:

5002 - Florida STORET / WIN
5058 - Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) Water Quality Monitoring Report
95 - Harmful Algal Bloom Marine Observation Network
3001 - Lagoon Watch (Formerly Marine Discovery Center)
103 - EPA STOrage and RETrieval Data Warehouse (STORET)
69 - Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) Program
102 - National Status and Trends Mussel Watch

There are no qualifying Value Qualifiers for Water Temperature in Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area

Water Quality - Continuous

The following files were used in the continuous analysis:

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Dissolved_Oxygen_SE-2024-Mar-23.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Dissolved_Oxygen_Saturation_SE-2024-Mar-23.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_pH_SE-2024-Mar-23.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Salinity_SE-2024-Mar-23.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Turbidity_SE-2024-Mar-23.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Water_Temperature_SE-2024-Mar-23.txt

Continuous Water Quality
Map showing Continuous Water Quality Monitoring sampling locations within the boundaries of Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area. Sites marked as Use In Analysis are featured in this report.

Water Temperature - Continuous Water Quality

LKWF1

National Data Buoy Center (5)
Continuous Water Quality

4

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

93

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

90

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

85

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

1

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

94

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

84

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

95

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

91

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

86

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

3

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

89

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

88

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

87

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

97

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

5

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

98

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

92

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

96

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

2

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

6

Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys (986)
Continuous Water Quality

All Stations Combined by Program

Continuous Water Quality
Continuous Water Quality
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Results for All Stations - Water Temperature
Station N_Data N_Years Period of Record Median tau SennIntercept SennSlope p
LKWF1 1212179 35 1984 - 2023 26.5 0.41 25.67 0.03 0.0000
Continuous Water Quality
Continuous Water Quality
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Results for All Stations - Water Temperature
Station N_Data N_Years Period of Record Median tau SennIntercept SennSlope p
4 68937 10 2013 - 2022 26.59 0.17 26.46 0.04 0.0305
93 106903 16 2007 - 2022 26.47 0.35 26.12 0.06 0.0000
90 97006 16 2007 - 2022 26.43 0.33 25.91 0.06 0.0000
85 114214 16 2007 - 2022 26.26 0.34 25.99 0.07 0.0000
1 65108 10 2013 - 2022 26.40 0.13 26.72 0.04 0.1158
94 90265 16 2007 - 2022 25.55 0.28 24.89 0.06 0.0000
84 111153 16 2007 - 2022 26.32 0.36 25.94 0.07 0.0000
95 102279 16 2007 - 2022 25.58 0.30 24.87 0.07 0.0000
91 102406 16 2007 - 2022 26.54 0.33 26.01 0.07 0.0000
86 104767 16 2007 - 2022 26.16 0.36 25.78 0.07 0.0000
3 60887 10 2013 - 2022 26.65 0.25 26.54 0.06 0.0010
89 113809 16 2007 - 2022 26.28 0.35 26.08 0.07 0.0000
88 115305 16 2007 - 2022 26.35 0.34 26.08 0.06 0.0000
87 108339 16 2007 - 2022 26.44 0.31 25.99 0.06 0.0000
97 97533 13 2010 - 2022 26.45 0.38 26.21 0.08 0.0000
5 51977 10 2013 - 2022 26.62 0.22 26.46 0.05 0.0067
98 87973 13 2010 - 2022 26.40 0.39 26.21 0.09 0.0000
92 111826 16 2007 - 2022 26.45 0.37 25.96 0.07 0.0000
96 25550 6 2007 - 2012 24.87 -0.25 24.98 -0.23 0.0801
2 64486 10 2013 - 2022 26.72 0.26 26.73 0.05 0.0007
6 63582 10 2013 - 2022 26.77 0.09 26.42 0.03 0.2598

Coral Reef

The data file used is: All_CORAL_Parameters-2024-Mar-28.txt
Coral

Coral
Coral